Pile wire loom stopping mechanism



July 21, 1931.. R. SPENDLOVE FILE WIRE LOOM STOPPING MECHANISM FiledFeb. 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

WMQV/J Rob'erT Spendbve byfwwkw ATTys.

July 21, 1931. R, SPEND LOVE 1,815,277

FILE WIRE LOOM STOPPING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 273 \n v e nTor.

75 RoberT Spend\ove familiar to those skilled necessary here toillustrate and describe- Patented July 21, 1931 STATES PATENT ()FFECEROBERT SPENDLOVE, 0F SANFORD, IVIAINE, ASSIGNOR TO SAN FORDYMILLS, 0FSANFORD, MAINE, A CQIREOR-ATION OF MAINE FILE WIRE LOOIVE STOFPINGMECHANISM Application filed February 13, 1930.

This invention relates to looms for weaving pile fabric in which thepile is formed, usually from the warps, over pile Wires inserted intothe shed and w'thdrawn from the fabric as the weaving operationproceeds. mechanism for inserting and withdrawing the pile wires failsto function properly" so that a wire is not withdrawn or a wire is notinserted at the proper time, a serious defect is formed in the fabric.These pile fabric looms therefore require the constant attention of theoperator so as to observe, if possible, the beginning of an improperfunctioning of the pile wire inserting and Withdrawing mechanism andstop the loom and repair or adjust the mechanism before the defect formsin the fabric. 0 v

The present invention has for its ob ect to provide for the automaticstopping of the loom whenever the pile wlre lnserting and withdrawingmechanism fails to function properly by fallmg to withdraw the pile wireor by failing is therefore of great importance because it rendersunnecessary constant attention by the operator to'the pile wireinserting and withdrawing mechanism and thus enables an operator toattend more than one loom.

The invention has therefore as its further object to provide mechanismwhich prevents formation of defects in the fabricor cloth being wovendue to the failure of pile wire inserting and withdrawing mechanism tofunction properly.

The invention has for its further object to provide a mechanism securingthe desired results which shallbe electrically controlled. These andother objects and features of the invention will appear more fully fromthe accompanying description and drawings and will be particularlypointed out in the claims. As the general construction and operation Iof looms 'for weaving pile fabrics employing pile wires in the formationof thepile, which pile wires are inserted and withdrawn during theweaving operation, are well known and in the art, it is only mechanism.to insert a pile wire whichv normally happens when the mechanism failsto withdraw the pile wire. The invention Serial No; 428,004.

those parts of one well-known type of suchloom with which preferredforms of the in-- vention are particularly concerned. 7

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a top elevation of a so-called wire motion ormechanism for successively inserting pile wires into the shed andWithdrawing them from thefabric, together with elements of a preferredform of the invention embodied therein. 7 I Fig. 2 is a side elevationpartially in vertical cross section of the construction shown in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a detail in rear elevation of a portion of the mechanism shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view largely of a diagrammatic nature illustrating thegeneral operation of a preferred form of mechanism embodying theinvention. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the knock-off or stopping positionof the loom stopping Fig. 6 is adiagrammatic view illustrating theapplication of the invention to a loom equipped with an individual motordrive.

In the type of loom illustrated, the pile wires are inserted andwithdrawn at the right-hand side of the loom. Each wire comprises fiathead 1 having an aperture fz extending transiersely therethrough, acamshaped lug 3 extending above the top surface at at the inner end anda short lug 5 extending above the top surface near the outer end, andthe long wire proper 6 over which the pile of the fabric is formed. v

lVhen in working position in the loom, the heads of the pile wires aresupported and positioned in a. magazine, the base 7 of which is securedto the loom frame. From this base rises an overhanging arm 8 having atthe front an outwardly projecting wall 9 of the wall 10 and the headabutting the arm 8, held down by the spring 11 and pressed toward thewall 9 by the follower 10. As the weaving operation proceeds, theforemost pile wire is withdrawn outwardly from the magazine and then insertedinto the shed in the rear of the magazine and in front of the wall10. When, during the inserting movement, the inner end of the head ofthe pile wire reaches the space between the cam-shaped face of the outerend of the next adjacent pile wire, the continued inserting movementforces the heads of the pile wires already in the magazine forward andthe head of the pile wire being inserted slides into the magazine andinto position therein.

The mechanism shown for withdrawing and inserting the pile wires is of afamiliar type. The pile wire, as it is withdrawn and inserted, is guidedin a. groove 14 of a wire guide 15 pivotally mounted at its extremeouterend and shifted as required so that its inner end moves'fro-m theposition shown in Fig. 1 rearward to the inserting position and thenback to the position shown in Fig. 1. A carriage 16 is mounted to slideon the rigid guide or way17 and rests upon the wire guide 15. Thiscarriage is given its reciprocating movement at the required times by alink 18 connected to a reciprocating arm or actuator 19 operated in theusual manner. This carriage is provided with the withdrawing hook 20pivoted thereon at 21, and yieldingly pressed rearward so that when thecarriage is in its extreme inner position the hook will catch hold ofthe pile wire by entering the aperture 2 and engaging the head of thepile wire at the outer end of this aperture. Henceas the carriagereciprocates outwardly, the pile wire is withdrawn. In Fig. 1 thecarriage is shown as thus withdrawing the foremost pile wire. A latchmember 22 is transversely pivoted at 23 on the top of the carriage 16and is pressed downw rd by a coiled spring 24 on a stud 25 extendingfrom the carriage upward through the latch. hen a pile wire is beinginserted, the latch rests on top of the head of the pile wire andpresses against the lug 3. As the pile wire enters the magazine, theouter end of the latch rides up on the top cam surface 26 of the wall10. When the carriage starts on its withdrawing movement, the hook 20engages the aperture 2 in the foremost pile wire and when the head ofthe pile wireleaves the magazine, the head or inner end of the latch 22drops onto the top surface 4 of the pile wire head and the latch is heldin an upper or indicating position against the tension of the spring 24,as shown in Fig. 2. If, however, the hoolt20 has failed to engage thepile wire, there will be nothing to hold the latch 22 elevated and asthe withdrawing movement takes place, the latch will drop into theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, these positions ofthe latch 22 are utilized to actuate mechanism for stopping the loom.While Various mechanisms may be employed, there is here shown as onegood way of accomplishing the desired result an electrically controlledmechanism. A base plate 27 is adjustably secured by bolts 28 to the rearface of the wire guide 15. On this base is adjustably mounted anelectric con tact 29 from which the circuit wire 30 extends. On thisbase is also mounted a movable electric contact 31 from which thecircuit wire 32 extends. This movable contact is shown as a plungermounted to slide in alignment with the contact 29 in the lugs 33 andnormally pressed toward the contact 29 by a coiled spring34l extendingbetweenone of the lugs and a collar 35 adjustably secured by a set screw36 to the plunger or contact 31. A trip shown generally as a lever 37fulcrumed at 38 on the base 27 is normally held by a spring 39 against alug 10 on the base 27 in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 with thelower end of the lever engaging the collar 35 and holding the contact 31away from the contact 29 against the tension of the spring 3%. Thislever is formed in two parts, ll and 42, pivoted together at 43 and heldin alignment with a light spring 44. It will therefore be seen, viewingFig. 3, that if the upper end of the trip 37 is swung to the left, thelower end will swing up to the right, releasing the collar 36 andallowing the spring 3a to force the contact 31 against the contact 29.The two-part formation of this lever forms a give-way so that if theupper end of the trip 37 is swung to the right, no movement of the tripas a whole will take place.

The upper end of the trip 37 extends vertically into such a positionthatif the head of the latch 22 is held in its upper or indicatingposition by a pile wire head, as shown in Fig. 2, the head of the latchwill not engage the trip but will pass above it as the carriage movesback and forth. If, however, a pile wire head is not present, andconsequently the latch 22 is not pressed upward, but instead is in itsnonindicating position or lower posi tion shown in dotted lines in Fig.2, then when the withdrawing movement of the carriage takes place, thehead of the latch 22 will catch the trip and actuate it to freethecontact plunger 31 and close the electric circuit.

The closing of the electric circuit is utilized to effect the stoppingof the loom and a simple arrangement for this purpose is shown, largelydiagrammatically, in Figs. 4 and5. A loom stopping mechanism isrepresented by the shaft &5 having secured thereto the shipper handle 46and the knock-off lever or projection 47 and it is assumed that, by anysuitable mechanismsuch as is well known to those skilled in the art, amovement of this mechanism represented by shifting these dotted lines inFig. 4

parts from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5will effect the stopping of the loom.

As a simple and preferred means for thus shifting the loom stoppingmechanism, the usual filling fork mechanism is utilized.

The filling fork mechanism is shown as of a usual type comprising a forkslide 48 mounted to slide forward and rearward in a holder or bracket 49mounted on the breast beam of the loom. The usual filling fork 50 isshown pivoted at 51 in the fork slide. A usual form of weft hammer 52 isshown fulcrumed at 53 and is given its regular swinging movement bymeans such as usually employed. As is well known in this type ofmechanism, if filling is absent from in front of the filling fork whenthe lay of the loom heats up, the fork will not be tilted on its fulcrum51 but will remain in the position shown in Fig. 4 and the weft hammerwill engage on the tail of the fork and move the fork slide forward toknock off or stop the loom. In the construction illustrated as embodyingthe present invention, a similar movement of the fork slide is utilizedand this movement is obtained from a mechanism such as illustrated. Thismechanism is shown as comprising a solenoid 54 mounted on the fork slide48 and a bell crank lever fulcrumed at 55 on the fork slide. This bellcrank lever is so arranged that under normal conditions a light spring56 holds the core 57 of the solenoid against the vertical arm 58 of thelever and thus holds the horizontal arm 59 up out of the path of theweft hammer.v WVhen, however, the solenoid is energized by the closingof the electric circuit, the core 57 is withdrawn and the lever rocksinto the position shown in so that the end of its horizontal arm 59 isin the path of the weft hammer. Consequently as the weft hammer swingsforward, the fork slide is carried forward.

A simple form of connection by which the work slide operates theknock-off or loom stopping mechanism is shown as comprising a lever 60fulcrumed at 61 and extending up forward of the fork slide. holds thislever toward the fork slide and a link 63 connects it to the knock-offlever 47. Consequently as the fork slide moves forward, the loomstopping mechanism is thrown from the position shown in Fig. 4 to thatshown in Fig. 5 and the loom is stopped.

The electric contacts 2-9 and 31 with the circuit wires 30 and 32already referred to are shown in Fig. 4. The circuit wire 30 runs to thesolenoid 54, thence through a transformer 64, thence to a contact 65 onor connected to the shaft 45. The circuit wire 32 is shown as running toa fixed contact 66 rest ing at its end, in Fig. 4, on the contact 65.The contacts 65 and 66 are employed so that when the loom is stopped,the circuit will be A spring 62 g broken at this point and thus preventburning out of the solenoid.

The operation of the invention will now be clear. If the hook 20 whichis the element for catching hold'of and withdrawing the pile'wi're fromthe magazine fails to catch hold of the pile wire and consequently thelatch 22 is not moved or lifted into its indieating position as thewithdrawing movement takes place, the latch will engage and actuate thetrip 37, closing the contacts 29 and 31, energizing the solenoid 54,allowing the arm 59 of the lever to drop in front of the weft hammer 52,and as the weft hammer 52 swings forward, the fork slide 48 will becarried forward and the parts 45, 47 and 46 will be swung from theposition shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, stopping the loom andsimultaneously breaking the electric circuit.

It will be observed that this wire motion or pile wire inserting orwithdrawing mechanism as illustrated, when it is acting normal ly,inserts into the shed the same pile wire which it has just withdrawnfrom the fabric.

The mechanism thus illustrated and described in detail is but one formwhich the broad invention may take whether controlled electrically orotherwise.

Frequently looms are run by individual motors and as illustratinganother application of the invention, the broad principle may be appliedto the stopping of the loom by breaking the driving motor circuit uponthe failure of the pile wire inserting and withdrawing mechanism towithdraw or insert a pile wire. This idea is illustrateddiagrammatically in Fig. 6 wherein the contacts 67 and 68 similar to 29and 31 already described are assumed to be operated by a trip 69 similarto the trip 37. In this case when the electric circuit is closed by thefailure of the pile wire mechanism to function properly, it energizes asolenoid 70 which moves a core '71 to the, left and swings a contactlever 72 away from a contact 73, thus opening the circuit 74 through thedriving motor 7 5 and consequently stopping the loom.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising'bodily movable means forinserting and withdrawing pile wires including a normally depressedlatch movable with said means and held elevated by a pile wire whenengaged and being withdrawn by said means, and means actuated by thelatch to stop the loom when the withdrawing movement of the saidinserting and withdrawing means takes place with the latch depressed.

2. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising bodily movable pile wireinserting and. withdrawing mechanism 7 having a latch bodily movabletherewith and resting upon 7 and bein withdrawn the pile wire when thepile wire is being withdrawn and standing in a lower position when apile wire is absent on the withdrawing movement, a trip in the path ofthe latch when in its lower position but out of the path of the latchwhen the latch is supported by the pile wire, loom stopping means, andmeans to actuate the loom stopping means upon the operation of the trip.

, 3. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising pile wire inserting andwithdrawing mechanism including an element for catching hold of a pilewire and a second element moved into the retained in anindicatingposition when the first element catches and holds the pilewire, and means operated by the second element to effect the stopping ofthe loom when the withdrawing movement of said mechanism takes placewith the second element in non-indicating position.

i. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising means for inserting andwithdrawing pile wires and electrically controlled means, aetuated bythe aforesaid means upon the failure of the aforesaid means to withdrawa pile wire, to stop the loom.

A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising pile wire shed-inserting andwithdrawing means acting after the insertion of pile wire to engage apreviously inserted pile wire and withdraw it, and electricallycontrolled means acting to stop the loom upon a withdrawal movement ofthe aforesaid means after failure to engage and withdraw a pile wire asrequired in the loom operation.

6. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising means for inserting andwithdrawing pile wires, a knock-offmechanism for stopping the loom, andelectrically controlled means for actuating the knock-off mechanism tostop he loom renderedactive by movement of the afo-resaie means uponfailure of a pile wire to be withdrawn as required in the weavingoperation.

7. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising bodily movable means forinserting and withdrawing pile wires including normally depressed latchmovable with said means and held elevated by a pile wire when engaged bysaid means, an electric circuit, means actuated by the latch to closethe circuit when the withdrawing movement of the said inserting andwithdrawing means takes place with the latch depressed, and meansactuated by the circuit when closed to stop the loom.

S. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising bodily movable pile wireinserting and withdrawing mechanism having a latch bodily movabletherewith and resting upon the pile wire when the pile wire is beingwithdrawn and standing in a lower position when apile wire is absent'onthe withdrawing movement, a trip in the path of the latch when 7 1 inits lower position but out of the path of the latch when the latch issupported by the pile wire, loom stopping means, an electric circuit,means to close the circuit actuated by the trip whenthe trip is struckby the latch, and means actuated by the circuit when closed to operatethe loom stopping means.

9. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising pile wire inserting andwithdrawing mechanism including an element for catch ing hold of a pilewire and a second element moved into and retained in an indicatingposition when the first element catches and holds the pile wire, anelectric circuit, means actuated by the circuit when closed to effectthe stopping of'the loom, and means ope-rated'by the second element toclose the circuit" when the withdrawing movement of said mechanism takesplace with the second element in non-indicating position.

10. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising means for inserting andwithdrawing pile wires and means, actuated by the said inserting andwithdrawing means upon its withdrawal movement after failure to withdrawa pile wire, to stop the loom.

11. A learn for weaving pile fabric comprising means for inserting andwithdrawing pile wires and means, actuated by the withdrawal movementwithout a pile wire of said inserting and withdrawing means, to stop theloom.

12. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising pile wire shed insertingand withdrawing means acting after the insertion of pile wire to engagea previously-inserted pile wire and withdraw it, and means operated bysaid inserting and withdrawing means and acting to stop the loom uponthe failure of the said inserting and withdrawing means to engage andwithdraw a pile wire as required in the loom operation.

13. A loom for weaving pile fabric comprising means for withdrawing andinserting a pile wire and means, actuated by the movement without thesaid pile wire of said witl plrawing and inserting means, to stop theoom.

lin testimony whereof, I have si ned my name to this specification.

ROBERT SPENDLOVE.

